Summer Pasta Salad is the perfect dish to enjoy during warm weather, offering a delightful combination of fresh ingredients, vibrant colors, and bright flavors. This versatile salad is light yet satisfying, making it ideal for picnics, barbecues, or casual weeknight dinners. With tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and a tangy dressing, Summer Pasta Salad brings together the best of the season’s produce in every bite.
The beauty of this pasta salad lies in its adaptability. You can use a variety of pasta shapes, from classic rotini to penne or farfalle, which helps hold the dressing and ingredients together. The vegetables are key—think of juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, and colorful red onions. You can also include fresh herbs like basil or parsley, adding a refreshing herbal note.
The dressing for Summer Pasta Salad is typically a simple vinaigrette made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey or lemon juice for sweetness. You can easily customize the dressing with extra herbs or seasonings to suit your taste. The dressing brings everything together, giving the salad a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that complements the vegetables and pasta.
For an extra protein boost, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas. Cheese lovers can sprinkle in some crumbled feta, mozzarella pearls, or grated Parmesan to enhance the richness of the dish.
Whether served as a side dish or a main course, Summer Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleaser that’s both refreshing and filling. It’s easy to make in advance, and the flavors often improve after a few hours in the fridge, making it a great option for meal prep or gatherings. And a perfect addition to any summer barbecue.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta such as rotini or penne
- 1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, black olives, and feta cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the vegetables and pour the dressing over. Toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Seems too simple to be good. What if I add more stuff?
I messed this up, forgot to rinse the pasta and it was sticky. But it tasted fine.
How many calories in this? I’m on a diet and need to know before I make it.
This salad is a hit at summer BBQs! The feta adds such a nice touch!
I dunno, I thought it was kinda bland. Needs more flavor or something.
I totally agree! I added some garlic and it made a huge difference. Maybe try that next time!
Could you replace the feta with something else? I really dont like feta.
You could try using mozzarella or maybe goat cheese instead! They taste pretty good in salads. 🙂
Do I have to use feta? I can’t find it anywhere. Can I skip it?
You can totally skip the feta! Just add more veggies or nuts for flavor. 😊
Easy and quick! I made it for a picnic and everyone loved it! Will make again!
So simple and fresh! Perfect for summer! Will definitely make again.
I am gluten-free, can I use zucchini instead of pasta? Let me know!
Too much olive oil maybe? Kinda oily for me.
Yum! Added some grilled chicken for protein, came out amazing! 😍
Sounds delicious! I love adding protein to my pasta salads too. Grilled chicken is a great choice! 🍗
This salad is a hit! I made it for a picnic, and everyone loved it! 🌟
I’m so glad to hear that! I can’t wait to try it for my next gathering. 😄
Delicious! Perfect for summer barbecues. I made it twice last week.
Pasta salad? More like pasta mess! Not my cup of tea.
Pasta salad is too much carbs for summer! 🥴
I didn’t have red wine vinegar, used apple cider instead. Still good but different flavor.
Yummy! But what’s red wine vinegar? Can I use apple cider instead?
This pasta salad is super refreshing! Perfect for summer BBQs. My family loved it!
Great recipe! But, like, I added some hot sauce just for fun! Changed everything! Haha.
I dunno, mixing in hot sauce sounds kinda weird for pasta salad…
Hot sauce? That’s a wild twist! I gotta try that next time!
Really??? Feta cheese? That’s gross! I think blue cheese would be way better.
This pasta salad was a hit at my BBQ! Super easy to make and refreshing for summer.
Yummy! I added grilled chicken and it was fantastic!! 🐔🍝
Grilled chicken? That’s a great idea! I never thought of that. 😊
This pasta salad is super refreshing! Perfect for summer picnics. Everyone loved it!
I totally agree! This salad is a hit at my summer BBQs too!
I don’t know, I think it could use more flavor. Maybe some garlic? Just eh.
I followed the recipe, but my pasta ended up mushy. What did I do wrong??
Why use red wine vinegar? Any vinegar would work, right? Seems unnecessary.
Good, but kinda basic. Need more ingredients, maybe throw in some chicken or something.
Basic? Nah, I think it’s really refreshing just the way it is. Sometimes less is more!
I think adding chicken would be a great idea! It could make it more filling and delicious. But I kinda like it simple too.
Easy to make and delicious! I added some grilled chicken and everyone went crazy for it!
I dunno, this seems too simple. Is it even worth making? What if it tastes bland?
Sounds yummy! Grilled chicken sounds like a great addition. I’ll have to try that next time!
This pasta salad is super refreshing! Perfect for summer BBQs. I made it for a family gathering, and everyone loved it! ☀️
I totally agree! This pasta salad is a game changer for BBQs! 🌞
Looks good, but I’m not sure everyone would like feta. Can I skip it?
This dis is too easy, I made it yesterday and ate it all night! Very tasty!
So glad you liked it! It’s super easy and perfect for summer. 🍅
Tasted pretty good but I think it needed more dressing. Felt a bit dry.
LOL I thought this was a hot dish at first. It’s cold? Uh, I’m confused.
Just okay. Wish there was more flavor or something crunchy.
Yum! Feta is life! I added some grilled chicken and it was even better! 👌
I think this would be better with Italian dressing instead of the olive oil. Just an idea! 💭
Yummm! Made it with whole wheat pasta and it was still delish!
Whoa, why is the feta cheese so crumbly? Mine turned into a mush. Not good.
Feta can be tricky! Maybe try a firmer variety next time. Not all feta is created equal!
I made this for a picnic and it was gone in minutes. Everyone loved it!
Why do you add olives in a salad? They ruin the taste, just my opinion.
Simple and fresh. I doubled the olive oil tho. Can’t ever have too much oil. 😂
Haha, I love your style! More oil means more flavor, right? 🍝
This recipe is a total winner! Super fresh and easy to make. My whole family loved it!
Looks good, but I don’t like olives. Can anyone suggest a substitute?
I totally agree! This pasta salad is the best! I added some grilled chicken to mine and it was even better!
Not sure if I did it right but it was just pasta with veggies. Where’s the magic?
Don’t worry! It might seem simple, but fresh ingredients can be magical! Try adding some herbs next time.
Pasta with veggies is not supposed to be fancy! Just add some spices or garlic for more flavor. 🙄
Yum!!! This recipe is bomb! Definitely making this again!
I think pasta is overrated. I mean can’t we just eat salad without pasta? 🤔
This salad is amazing! So fresh and light for summer.
loved ittt. so easy and takes no time. 10/10 recommend!
Too much onion for me. Could of been better if less onion was used.
I don’t understand why it’s so popular? I found it rather bland.
Why did you use vinegar? I hate that stuff! Made the salad sour for me. 🙁
So easy to make! I added some grilled chicken and it was fire! 🔥🔥
Pasta salad = life! Thanks for sharing this recipe. Will make again!
Just made this, it was an easy fix for lunch. Yum!
Took me longer than expected. Next time I’ll stick to a simpler recipe.
Wow, this is the best summer recipe I ever tried! The feta just makes it so creamy! 😍
I dont like olives, so I just left them out. Still turned out okay, but I think it needs more flavor.
OK recipe but not my fav. I prefer my pasta with some meat, where’s the protein?
It’s just okay. The pasta was too mushy for my liking. 🤷♂️
I think it could use some more spices. Just tasted kinda flat, ya know?